BENBOW, GARBERVILLE & ALONG THE AVENUE OF THE GIANTS
S O U T H E R N T
The Benbow Inn sits across Hwy 101 from the Benbow Valley Golf Course and Benbow KOA, just a couple miles south of Garberville. BenbowInn.com
he arts along Southern Humboldt’s famous Avenue of the Giants (Old Hwy 101) are thriving. The majestic towering redwoods and gently flowing Eel River make for a natural wonderland, perfect for creative inspiration. The small rural communities in the heart of the redwoods, once booming mill towns, are now havens for artists, musicians and craftsmen. Benbow, Garberville and Redway, located just outside the southern entrance to the Avenue of the Giants, are home every year to major musical and theatrical events.
Thank you Sally Arnot for your many Contributions to the Arts in Humboldt County Member of Historic Hotels of America Open Daily for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Benbow Historic Inn 445 Lake Benbow Dr. Garberville 707-923-2124 800-355-3301 www.benbowinn.com
® 40 / The Palette
The Mateel Community Center in Redway operates as both an event venue and in-house arts presenter. Famous for such festivals as Reggae on the River, the Summer Arts & Music Festival and the Humboldt Hills Hoedown, (see Events & Festivals, pages 42-43) the Mateel Community Center also offers an annual calendar of events which covers a wide range of artistic styles and media, and a wide variety of programs, from youth athletics and children’s theater to cooking classes and clown workshops. Many of these programs are offered at no cost or at minimal cost to students and schools. The area is home to retail shops, restaurants, roadside vendors and rural galleries all along the Avenue of the Giants. At many of the roadside stops along this route you will find whimsical carvings hewn from some of the glorious redwood trees that help give this region its name. However, it is a mistake to think that the artistic offerings of Southern Humboldt are limited to redwood bears and tree houses, woven hemp products and tie-dyed clothing. There are also artist studios and galleries where visitors can find fine paintings, blown glass, hand-wrought jewelry, pottery, sculpture, and many other one-of-a-kind pieces. Miranda, near the southern entrance to the Avenue of the Giants, is one of the towns where you can find places to admire and purchase these treasures. The peaceful village of Myers Flat has Riverbend Cellars, a winery with a wine tasting room, nestled in the redwood forest, serving as a centerpiece of the Avenue of the Giants. The whole Avenue journey, through Weott and Redcrest north to Pepperwood, is a visual treat for the traveler, both in the form of natural beauty and in the work of gifted artists.
ARTS ORGANIZATIONS Also check Facebook for more on each organization. Information is subject to change.
Mateel Cooperative Art Gallery 773 Redwood Dr. Garberville, CA 95542 707-923-4895 Artists from Humboldt and Mendocino counties. See on Facebook.
Mateel Community Center
PO Box 1910, 59 Rusk Ln. Redway, CA 95560 707-923-3368 • Mateel.org Event venue and in-house arts presenter.
